U.S. asks airlines to comply with Chinese air-defense zone

Saturday

Nov 30, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 30, 2013 at 12:17 PM

WASHINGTON - On the same day that China scrambled fighter jets to enforce its newly declared air-defense zone, the Obama administration decided to advise U.S. commercial airlines to comply with China's demands to be notified in advance of flights through the area.

WASHINGTON — On the same day that China scrambled fighter jets to enforce its newly declared air-defense zone, the Obama administration decided to advise U.S. commercial airlines to comply with China’s demands to be notified in advance of flights through the area.

While the United States continued to defy China by sending military planes into the zone unannounced, administration officials said they expected civilian planes to adhere to Beijing’s new rules out of fear of an unintended confrontation.

Although the officials made clear that the administration rejects China’s control of the airspace over a large area of the East China Sea, the guidance to the civilian airlines could be interpreted as a concession in the battle of wills with China.

“The U.S. government generally expects that U.S. carriers operating internationally will operate consistent with” notice requirements “issued by foreign countries,” the State Department said, adding that that “does not indicate U.S. government acceptance of China’s requirements.”

The decision contrasted with that of Japan’s government this week, when it asked its airlines, which were voluntarily following China’s rules, to stop for fear that doing so would add legitimacy to Chinese claims to control the airspace above islands claimed by both countries.

Experts say China’s new air-defense zone, declared last weekend, is designed mainly to whittle away at Japan’s hold on the islands, which it has long administered.

The U.S. announcement came hours after Chinese state news media said China sent jets that identified two U.S. surveillance planes and 10 Japanese aircraft in the air-defense zone. There was no indication that China’s air force showed any hostile intent, but the move raised tensions.

Earlier in the week, the United States sent unarmed B-52s into the area, and they proceeded unimpeded.

China’s moves are putting the United States into the middle of the prickly territorial clash between Beijing and Tokyo, a position the U.S. had avoided for months even while reiterating that it was treaty-bound to defend Japan if it ever were attacked.

The administration’s decision yesterday underscored the sensitive position President Barack Obama finds himself in, drawn into a geopolitical dispute that will test how far he is willing to go to contain China’s rising regional ambitions.

After the declaration last weekend, U.S. officials feared that if left unchallenged, the Chinese action would lead to ever greater claims elsewhere in the Pacific region.

But with planes flying so fast and in such proximity, the administration’s worries grew that an accident or an unintended confrontation could spiral out of control.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.